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Storyline: The teams played a preseason game in February, which ended in a 34-34 tie when the SaberCats, upset over hits on the QB, walked off with roughly a minute remaining. San Jose is led by record-setting QB Mark Grieb, who leads the league’s third-ranked passing offense (331.3 yards per game). The Talons, paced by QB Aaron Garcia, are fourth (315.0). The SaberCats this week signed place-kicker Nick Pertuit, former captain for the UIW soccer program. San Jose’s high-octane offense will be tested by the Talons’ scoring defense, ranked fourth (48.3) and paced by DBs Fred Shaw and Kenneth Fontenette.

San Antonio only for a few months, but they already have a bit of a history with tonight's opponent, the San Jose SaberCats.

In an exhibition game Feb. 29 at the Alamodome, the teams played to a 34-34 tie, ending the game with roughly a minute left when San Jose coach Darren Arbet, upset at after-the-whistle hitting and scrums, pulled his squad off the field and into the locker room.

“It's personal,” San Antonio linebacker Jamar Ransom said Wednesday following an upbeat, noisy practice at the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex. “A lot of guys played there last year, and as much as we're trying to not make it personal, it's human nature and it's going to be personal.”

Feeling defensive: ﻿While the Talons are built around an explosive passing attack spearheaded by celebrated quarterback Aaron Garcia, it was the defense that came through in last week's victory.

Led by defensive backs Kenneth Fontenette and Fred Shaw, the Talons forced two fumbles and had an interception in the end zone in supplying a second-half shutout to key a 47-34 win at Orlando.

“In 18 years, I've seen it happen maybe twice,” Garcia, 41, said of keeping an opponent scoreless for a half.

“That's what we wanted to show here,” said Talons head coach Lee Johnson, a former All-Big Eight linebacker and defensive end at Missouri. “I know it's about offense, but I thought we could play a little ‘D.'”

That confidence will be tested against SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb, arguably the Arena Football League's top passer who threw for seven scores and ran for another in last week's 69-35 road win at Spokane. The Shock knocked off the Talons, 63-60, last month.

“We take a lot of pride in doing that,” Ransom said of the Talons' defense, fourth in the league in average points allowed (48.3). “We want to go down to San Jose and hit them in the mouth.”

Making the trip: Former East Central and Texas A&M-Kingsville standout Brent Holmes may finally line up at wide receiver and kick returner.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Holmes, who injured his shoulder following a catch in the exhibition against San Jose, was cleared for workouts this week. Either he or fellow wideout Sale Key will be active.

“I'm champing at the bit,” Holmes said. “I've been sitting back just waiting for my time and opportunity. As a competitor, in the town where I came from, it was frustrating.”

Reunions: A scattering of Talons, including lineman Ty Nsekhe, fullback Chad “Tank” Cook, offensive lineman Ray Hisatake and assistant coach Tyrone Peace all had stints at San Jose last season.

Transactions: Johnson admitted that he worked to deal for line help in recent weeks by dangling available wide receivers for possible trades. He ended up keeping Key, but Shaun “S.K.” Kauleinamoku is no longer on the roster.